Scientology has had a horrendous October.

They were convicted of fraud in France and both the St. Petersburg Times and ABC’s Nightline had very damaging reports from ex members who have spoken out.

A multitude of lawsuits are moving forward and the media continues to be a thorn in Scientology’s side.

One of Scientology’s long time members, celebrity Paul Haggis has recently flown the coop and has spoken out. Also many members, and high level “OT’s” have left the cult.

Two new books by ex members have just been published.

Marc Headley wrote “Blown For Good, Behind Scientology’s Iron Curtain” and Nancy Many has written, “My Billion Year Contract“. Kudos to them!

Both Books Available On Amazon.com

Well, November isn’t looking any better for Scientology.

Just yesterday, Australian Senator, Nicholas (Nick) Xenophon has called for a Senate inquiry into Scientology.
 

The Senator presented horrific stories that were sent to him by ex Scientology members, Aaron Saxton, Carmel Underwood, Paul Schofield, Anna and Dean Detheridge and Kevin Mackey. 

Xenophon stated,

 that the ex members claim that Scientology is an abusive, manipulative, violent and criminal organisation, and that criminality is condoned at the highest levels and thatand said he is seeing a worldwide pattern of abuse and criminality.

The Senator’s presentaion was well researched with highlights on the cult’s many abuses and their tax exemption status. 
Click the following links to watch Part One and Part Two on YouTube.
For the transcript listed on the Parliament of Australia website, click here.

A little look into what was said by ex members and reported by the Senator.
Ex member, Aaron Saxton’s who was born into Scientology, was made a security guard for the cult at age 16. His time while in the cult, tells a horrific tale of what Scientology forced him to do or suffer their consequences. 

Aaron said he had to commit many fraudulent acts on behalf of the cult. These acts included coercing Sea Org members into having abortions, family disconnection, he was made to falsify bank records, he blackmailed other members by using their private info from their files, and participated in defrauding of credit cards.

More disturbingly, Aaron had to pull out his own teeth because of lack of medical care. He was also told not to report that a man attempted to rape him. 

A couple of snippets from the Senator’s transcript, (please read the entire transcript):

Aaron said he was so heavily under the control of the organisation’s bizarre power structure he was complicit in ordering the beating of one follower and facilitated the beating of another.

Aaron has now left the organisation and is willing to cooperate with police investigations into these matters. He was born into the cult, and he says he regrets the control it had over him and the things he did as a result.

Ex Sea Org member, Carmel Underwood.
Carmel worked for the cult in Sydney. She was also the financial planning arm of the cult. When she became pregnant, she was pressured to abort her child.

Some snippets on Carmel from the transcript:

She was working for the organisation in Sydney she fell pregnant and was put under extreme pressure to have an abortion. When she refused, she was put on a disappearing program.

Carmel says she chose to speak out because she knows there are many more victims of Scientology many of whom are still caught up in the organisation and are being physically, financially and mentally abused.

Carmel’s husband, Tim, supports his wife’s story and says the couple suffered serious financial hardship because of their involvement in the organisation. He says they were forced to pay more than $100,000 to publicise the organisation and for so-called religious texts and courses.

And finally on to the very sad story of Paul Schofield.
Paul lost his two young daughters while in the cult.

Snippets from the transcript on Paul:

He alleges the cover-up of child abuse by the organisation and admits being part of a campaign to cover up the facts surrounding the deaths of two of his daughters. Paul says his first daughter, Lauren, who was 14 months old, was being babysat at the organisation’s building in Sydney when she was allowed to wander the stairs by herself and fall. She died in hospital two days later. Paul says he felt pressured by Scientology executives not to request a coronial inquiry—pressure he ultimately gave in to. He was also told if he sought compensation from Scientology he and his wife would be ineligible for any other services.

His second daughter, Kirsty, who was 2½, died after ingesting potassium chloride—a substance used as part of a so-called purification program run by the organisation. Under the direction of  Scientology executives, Paul says he perjured himself to the police, and during the coronial inquest, in order to protect the organisation. Under incredible pressure he agreed to lie because he was scared he would be heavily punished by Scientology if he told the truth. It is a decision he regrets to this day.

 

From ex members Anna and Dean Detheridge, taken from the transcript:

claim to have been subjected to physical and mental abuse during their time with the organisation.

From Kevin Mackey taken from the transcript:

Kevin Mackey wrote to me detailing his 26 years of abuse in the organisation.

Once you have taken the bait and become hooked, the real Scientology is presented, very slowly, over years.

This psychological conditioning Kevin is talking about eventually saw him and his wife hand over almost a million dollars to the organisation in exchange for services and products.

Senator’s closing statements to parliament pretty much sums up what anti Scientology protesters and ex members who have spoken out against the cult have been all saying right along:

Do we really want to be funding an organisation that turns supporters into victims in its pursuit of power and wealth? That is why I am calling for a Senate inquiry into this organisation and its tax-exempt status. In the past Scientology has claimed that those who question their organisation are attacking the group’s religious freedom. It is twisted logic, to say the least. Religious freedom did not mean the Catholic or Anglican Churches were not held accountable for crimes and abuses committed by their priests, nuns and officials—albeit belatedly. Ultimately, this is not about religious freedom. In Australia there are no limits on what you can believe. But there are limits on how you can behave. It is called the law, and no-one is above it.

Thankfully, the Australain Police are now taking complaints on Scientology.

Ex members are starting to come out from the veil of secrecy and fight more than ever. Yesterday, it was announced on the Ex Scientology Message Board, that former member Kevin Mackey, (mentioned earlier) is getting together a class action lawsuit along with twenty other former Scientologists.The lawsuit willbe filed against the I.A.S. (which stands for International Association of Scientology) and Super Power. Both are incorporated in California, so that is where the case is being filed. He is asking for any ex members interested in participating in this class action suit to please contact him.

Kevin and other ex members are demanding their money back for contributions that they made. The money they handed over to the cult, did not go where the cult promised it was going.

FYI … The Super Power they speak of is a building attached to the Ft. Harrison Hotel in Clearwater. It is of course called The Super Power Building. (<click to read about it, it’s a real hoot!)

Funds have been collected from members for years through Scientology’s  “Super Power Expansion Project”. Where did all that money go?

The building was supposed to have been finished by the cult years ago. But it still remains an empty shell to this day. As of late March 2009, work on the building which is the length of a whole city block, is still at a standstill; the daily fines levied by the city now total $245,000.
Click here, for more info on why the Super Power Building remains closed by Marc Headley aka BFG which was written almost THREE YEARS ago.

Why Clearwater stands for Scientology’s shenanigans, is beyond me. I would imagine since Scientology has managed to slink their way in and buy up most of Clearwater over the years, (originally came in under a FAKE church name to purchase the Fort Harrison Hotel), that city officials are probably afraid of falling prey to the cult’s litigious nature and fair game tactics. Sad.

So once again America…
Why so lax? What’s it going to take?

The more our government sits idly by and allows the abuses and fraud of Scientology to continue, the more complicit they are in helping them to survive.

Again, as always…
you can believe in what you want, and that is your right. But when there is a continuous mountain of evidence that your “church” is being an abusive and corrupt organization that does not follow it’s own creed, it’s time to reavaluate the reasons why you joined Scientology in the first place.
Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Plain and simple.

If you need help leaving Scientology, or just need someone to talk to:
Call 1-866-XSEAORG.  (1-866-973-2674) This is a toll free call.
Visit the XSEAORG website:
http://www.exseaorg.com/

The people who contacted Senator Xenophon, are all listed on the “ex members who have spoken out” list on the Why We Protest Wiki along with their testimonies, interviews and videos. To view the WWP Wiki  list click here. (Thanks Anonymous!)

Currently, the count on the Wiki has reached 812 names, and it continues to grow.

WOW! That’s an awful lot of people saying the same thing.

How many times can Scientology deny all these claims before everyone including our government, realizes that Scientology is nothing more than an abusive, fraudulent business that is far from credible?

WAKE UP AMERICA!

How many times out of the goodness of your heart, have you donated to a good cause? Did you ever wonder if the good cause you donated to was on the up and up? Have you ever checked out a charity before donating your hard earned money? Well you should.

Just because it looks like a charity is on the up an up or sponsored by celebrities, doesn’t mean your money is going where you think it may be.

Glosslip is about to give you a small lesson in the many front groups of Scientology. If you are thinking that there is no way that you have have given cash to Scientology, think again. It happened to me, only I didn’t realize it until YEARS later. I will get to that later.

As you may or may not know, the cult of Scientology THRIVES on deception and secrecy. It has hundreds of front groups. Some of the better known front groups you may have heard about are, CCHR, Narconon, Criminon, Applied Scholastics, WISE, ABLE, FASE, and The Way To Happiness. 

While all the proceeds from these groups end up going to the same place, which is Scientology of course, the names of these groups usually are attached to a business, an inmate betterment program, a drug treatment program, a dentist or chiropractor’s office (we will get to that) or a school which teaches L. Ron Hubbard tech, like Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s school, the New Village Academy.

But there are a whole slew of names that you may not be aware of that are in fact Scientology.  Scientology’s deception runs so deep, that your own town officials may have some of these programs implemented and your tax dollars are ending up in Scientology’s pockets without you even knowing it. Yes, your tax dollars may be funding a Scientology drug rehabilitation program. Sad but true. It has happened in many states in the U.S. and just recently in New Mexico.

Ask Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez whose tax payers paid over $1.5 million dollars to run the now defunct Second Chance program which was run in their old Westside Jail. This program used Scientology’s teachings and the very dangerous Purification Rundown, which is also used by all Scientologists. This of course is the same program used in Narconon AND Criminon AND the NY Fire Fighter’s Detoxification program, just to name a few. ALL the same program, only with different names.

FYI…The Second Chance program left in the middle of the night and not only stole items, but left an outstanding bill. They owe more than $600,000 in tax liens, about $400,000 is due to the IRS, and more than $200,000 to the state. I would  like to know why Joy Westrum, who ran that particular Second Chance, is not being brought in for questioning? Crazy, isn’t it?

I know if that was MY money going towards a Scientology phony baloney drug rehab, I would be slightly miffed, to say the least.

Some of these programs that you may not be aware of are: The Drug Free Marshals, (this program is for children, and a new chapter just opened in Cincinnati) STOMP (Stop Torture of Mental Patients), World Literacy Crusade, Riders Against Drugs, The Association for Peace in the Middle East, Cry Out, Artists For A Better World, Slums To Schools, Racing For Human Rights Awareness & Education, Educating Children International, Fight for Kids, Author Services Inc., Volunteer Ministries, Guardian Art, Youth For Human Rights, Human Rights International, The NY Fire Fighters Detoxification Program, (created after 911, a front group for Narconon) Poets for Peace And Poets For Human Rights, and the list goes on and on and on. Narconon has MANY front groups and has recently been handing out pamphlets and information in many schools across the US. Tell your school no thank you!

Other names for Narconon front groups are stopaddiction.com, cocaineaddiction.com, ecstacyaddiction.com, methamphetamineaddiction.com, addiction2.com, just to name a few. Click here for more of Scientology’s front groups to watch out for.

Disturbing enough, the front groups names I just listed are merely  a drop in the bucket. Scientology has hundreds more and has successfully eked their way into law enforcement positions, government positions, our jail systems, our schools, our colleges, Hollywood, football teams, soccer teams, the arts and entertainment world, and yes, even NASCAR.

NASCAR driver, Kenton Gray, founded the Dianetics Racing Team in 2001. The name Dianetics Racing Team was a title taken from a book by founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.

Kenton drove a car sponsored by Bridge Publications, (another Scientology front group) which publishes Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s “Dianetics”, the biggest book of dribble I have ever had the misfortune of trying to read.

The hood of the car that Kenton drove read “Dianetics”, along with a volcano graphic. The slogan is “Ignite Your Potential”. *rolls eyes*

Poor Kenton has no idea what he has gotten himself into. I am sure a lot of his prize money will be going towards Scientology courses and auditing so he can climb his way up Scientology’s Bridge To Total Freedom or what we here at Glosslip refer to as “The Bridge to Nowhere and Financial Ruin.”

Scientology has also been infiltrating other countries for years now. They are looking for “fresh meat” to join their Sea Organization and their Volunteer Ministries. They have snaked their way into India, Africa, Russia, Thailand and even the Czech Republic and many more. They typically go into countries with using their front groups The Way To Happiness and Volunteer Ministries ostensibly to help the underprivileged. Many unsuspecting people have joined the Volunteer Ministries through Scientology’s “World Crusades”  events that Scientology holds thinking they were helping people, completely unaware of the negative influence they were spreading until it’s too late.

Scientology also creeps into businesses through companies like Sterling Management, Hollander Consultants, Silkin Management Group, (formally called Hollander Consultants) and Stellar Consultants, these are just a few. They are ALL affiliated with WISE, which stands for World Institute of Scientology Enterprises.

How is Scientology able to achieve getting into businesses? They contact the owners and tell them that their employees productivity will increase greatly if they take their courses. Of course they are Scientology courses. Scientology courses which were written up by L. Ron Hubbard. They also tell the owner that they too will also make money depending on how many employees they get on course, so naturally some business owners jump at the chance to make more money. The owners must pay a licensing fee to WISE for use of the course materials and also a pay a percentage to WISE.

What is being taught in these courses? L. Ron Hubbard tech of course! And why? MONEY for Scientology and hopefully indoctrination into Scientology down the line. It’s all a a very slow deceptive process.

CONTINUED:

There have been lawsuits against owners of companies who fired employees who refused to get on board with taking these courses. This is a scary and sad situation, especially today where employees may be afraid of losing their jobs in such a poor economy and feel they better take the courses or else they will have to go job hunting. It’s especially disturbing for employees with families they have to support. Take the case of an employee at a company called DISKEEPER who was dismissed when he refused to take courses.

And like we mentioned earlier, dentists and chiropractors are a big target for Scientology. Dentists are usally brought into the cult through the front group WISE. They are asked to pay for pamphlets that Scientology prints. Scientology puts the dentist’s name and endorsement on the pamphlet. Then the dentists will distribute these phamphlets in their offices and waiting rooms. Any patients or employess that sign up for a course, the dentist ends up with a commission.

They hook the chiropractors in through the front group the CCHR, because chiropractors are agaisnt drugging, and so is the CCHR.

Many chiropractors and dentists AND their patients were indoctrinated into the cult this way. The hook is, if the patient trusts and likes their dentist or chiropractor, and think that if they see that their dentist’s name is on a phamphlet, or they pick up a CCHR pamphlet in their chiropractor’s waiting room on the anti drugging of kids, that it’s a good thing because it was endorsed by someone they trust. This can happen at any time. You can be a patient for years, and then start to see these pamphlets show up in the waiting room. We are not suggesting you drop your dentist or chiropractor. But do not get into taking any courses. And keep in mind again, your money will end up in Scientology’s pockets eventually.

We can’t possibly name all of Scientology front groups here. Click here for a list of JUST Scientology Schools in the world.

Scientology also sneaks in the back door using the entertainment world. Of course most people have heard about Tom Cruise and John Travolta and other big league celebrity Scientologists, but I am talking about small time performers too. Like comedians. How about Evan Wecksell, who tours college campuses and who’s a HUGE advocate for “Fight for Kids“. He participated in a 2009 Run Evan Run Tour this past August.  All the proceeds went to Fight For Kids. YES of course it’s another Scientology front group.

Evan also trains for the ING New York City Marathon where he ties in raising funds for Fight For Kids at this website. You can make a donation directly to Fight For Kids on that website, but it’s really a donation for Scientology’s CCHR . How many people realize that when they give money to Evan for Fight For The Kids, that it is actually going to the CCHR? Just sickening.

Evan also released a press release which stated:

Wecksell also will take his marathon experience to the next level by fundraising concurrently for “Fight for Kids,” a campaign launched by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a non-profit public benefit organization. The campaign combats the psychiatric over-drugging and labeling of children while educating and offering alternatives for concerned parents.

At least the CCHR was mentioned in the article, but how many people know it is connected with Scientology? Or how much is Scientology mentioned at the race?  It’s not. Notice how the CCHR is described in the article as a “non profit public benefit organization.” Once again, no mention of Scientology or that he is a Scientologist raising money for Scientology.

Now keep in mind, the only thing that the CCHR does to help kids off drugs is print pamphlets about drugs and hand them out. It’s highly doubtful this is very affective in helping kids.

The CCHR funds their Psychiatry Industry of Death Exhibit (it’s a riot) both in California and the exhibits that travel across the US. All the rest of the money goes towards Scientology’s lawyers who are fighting pending lawsuits and also to pay their washed up and seedy private investigators, who follow, photograph, chase, and who dig up info on critics of Scientology and ex members who have left and have spoken out. The funds also go to their Office of Special Affairs which is nothing more than another group within the CCHR that is a group of Scientology goons who also photograph, follow people, dig up information, and “fair game” anyone who opposes Scientology or gets in the way of their quest to clear the planet. The rest of the money goes to Scientology cult leader David Miscavige who is a multi-millionaire living off Scientology front group earnings, money from the courses, the auditing and the “donations” of Scientology members. Lovely, isn’t it?

Now back to Evan Wecksell…

You can be the judge of his “talents” . Watch for yourself.

He also participates with his wife Kelly Meyersfield — of course another Scientologist – in the ”College The Musical: A Musical About College.” He is also an alum of the Theta Chi fraternity. It’s scary to think that Evan’s tours are at college campuses. What exactly do you think his intentions are? Promoting the CCHR? Evan’s website has other Scientology front groups links listed as well.

Now please know that I am not picking on Evan Wecksell. I am just using him as an example of how Scientology can reach smaller towns with semi-famous entertainers. And even raise funds through using a marathon race.

In Evan’s defense I would imagine like most public Scientologists, he and his wife do not have a clue about the dark side of Scientology. Members are kept far away from this information, and for obvious reasons. Just another deception of Scientology to keep their members in. Evan probably thinks he is doing a world of good for kids by thinking he is actually raising money for them. Sadly, he is not.

Scientology’s front groups are world wide. There are Narconon facilities world wide and many other front groups. L. Ron Hubbard would have loved to taken over the world if he could when he was alive. He thought he would be able to take over Rhodesia in the 1960’s. (named after Cecil Rhodes) Fact, Hubbard believed he was Cecil Rhodes in a previous life. Cecil Rhodes once said:

“I contend that we are the first race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race.”

Rhode’s dream of world domination was Hubbard’s dream too.
Rhodesia ended up kicking Hubbard’s sorry ass out.

Oh well… so much for world domination L. Ron.

In the UK, there is band called the The Jive Aces. They are a swing band whose members are all Scientologists. They go around with clip boards and hand out Scientology literature between their sets. Not my idea of a good time, having to be bothered by recruiters when your out for an enjoyable evening. Some of their venues have asked them to stop recruiting at their shows or else they wouldn’t be aloud to play any more. These guys are SO indoctrinated into Scientology, they even use Hubbard’s words in some of their songs. Click here. This was taped at their performance at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, UK.

St Hill is the biggest Scientology Org in the UK. The entire beginning of their song, “When Your Smiling” is strictly quoting Hubbard’s work. And yes they are very dorky in their matching yellow suits. I love swing music, but NO THANKS!

OR how about when Beck did a performance last year and the poster for his gig stated that all the proceeds went to Educating Children International?

YUP! You guessed it. Another Scientology front group. Pretty damn sneaky Beck. And not cool.

We did a story on that gig. His fans and now ex-fans were not too tickled that their $35 bucks went to Scientology. They were totally deceived. Nice thing to do to your fans huh?

So how did it happen to me?

How did I unknowingly donate money to Scientology? The same way as the Beck concert. I was totally duped by the deceptive promotion of an event.

I was asked to go to a benefit MANY years back. This was previous to my full knowledge of Scientology and all its abuses.  Like most people, I always thought Scientology was just some wacky group of people who believed in way out alien crap, and I thought they were totally harmless.

Someone told me the cause for the benefit I was attending was for the over drugging of school children. I thought, hmm… seems like a noble cause. My friend and I paid $30 a ticket and enjoyed the performers that night. There was a table set up passing out pamphlets and they were taking additional donations. I didn’t pay it any mind or even notice the literature they were handing out. Many people donated money and never even looked at the literature, thankfully I declined.

Now like I said, this benefit was YEARS ago. It wasn’t till a little over a year and a half ago I remembered reading an article that mentioned the over-drugging of school kids and that it was for the CCHR. It struck me kind of funny when I read it, as the words used in the article were so similar to the words used in describing the benefit I attended.

Well with a little snooping, I found out that the benefit I went to was also for the CCHR. So I looked into the CCHR and Scientology and I nearly fell of my seat. I was HORRIFIED.

Right then and there was when I decided to fight against Scientology. I was beyond disgusted and I couldn’t believe their out right deception.

But in the long run (many years later) I was happy that I did attend that benefit, because I would have never found out about all the abuses of Scientology and especially about their Sea Organization. So thanks Scientology, I guess you pulled me in and opened my eyes to your treacherous ways.

The more I dug up about Scientology on the net, the more and more I knew that I wanted to speak out for those who couldn’t speak out for themselves. Especially the Sea Org. I went on to read about Operation Snow White (when Scientologists (Hubbard’s wife too) infiltrated the IRS offices and stole government documents) It was the the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history! How Scientology was able to obtain tax exemption after this just makes me shake my head in disgust. Eleven people, including Hubbard’s wife, went to jail.

Equally as shocking, was the incredible story of the fair gaming of author Paulette Cooper who authored The Scandal Of Scientology. That Scientology fair game project was called “Operation Freak Out.” The poor woman was framed by Scientology and almost went to jail for a very long time. Read the story, it will blow your mind.

I was also shocked over Scientology’s religious cloaking and how they strong armed the IRS into giving them their tax exemption status back in the 90’s. And FYI…. they are the ONLY “religion”, *ahem* which is allowed to deduct courses, Scientology schooling and auditing as a deduction from their taxes. Nope not kidding.

From the Jewish Law website:

 In 1993, the Internal Revenue Service reached an agreement with the church, which was later leaked to the press, in which it pledged “not to contest the deductibility of Church of Scientology fixed donations in connection with qualified religious services.”

WHY IS THIS ALLOWED? 

Perhaps the Sklars court case from 2002 will interest you. They wanted to know why Scientology is the only “religion” that is allowed this exclusive tax exemption and so they decided to take their question to court. The LA Jewish couple asked if they can deduct their five children’s religious school costs off their taxes, in the same manner Scientology members are allowed to do, but guess what? They were denied. HUH?

Curious isn’t it? And more curious still…Scientology’s founder said and I quote:

“Scientology…is not a religion.” – L. Ron Hubbard, CREATION OF HUMAN ABILITY, 1954, p. 251

The Sklars have recently appealed to the Supreme Court. The outcome of this case will be very interesting.

Although I don’t believe that anyone should be allowed tax exemption for religious expenses, I think Scientology should not have exclusive rights. Perhaps this will rally the Supreme Court to take a good long hard look at all of Scientology’s shenanigans and favoritism that they were some how blessed with and why.

So, are you appalled yet? Good! Your learning!

I couldn’t stop digging around the internet about Scientology. It was like looking at a car accident. After reading about the death of Lisa McPherson and all the other alleged Scientology deaths, their use of fair game, all the abuses of their Sea Org members, and the out right evil deceptions that occur on a daily basis, I was totally hooked on making a promise to shed light on this insidious, litigious cult.

The people over at WhyWeProtest.com have been an ongoing thorn in Scientology’s side. Their website and forum consists of members of the group known as “Anonymous”, as well as critics and ex-Scientology members. Their website is a wealth of information, as well as their Research Wiki Page.

I tip my hat to Anonymous.

They have been able to shed more light on Scientology more than any other group or person. Their antics at their world wide protests which they claim they do for the “lulz”, and the all mighty internet has literally made the cult of Scientology start to crumble in a huge way and Anonymous may very well end up being the cult’s demise entirely.

I also have read some very heart wrenching stories at exscientologykids.com. This website was a real eye opener for me. It was started by Scientology ex-members Astra Woodcraft, Kendra Wiseman and Jenna Miscavige who were only children in Scientology’s brutal Sea Organization. Jenna suffered family disconnection from her parents as a child and left in 2005. She is the niece of Scientology cult leader David Miscavige. Be sure to give that website a visit. You will be both saddened and outraged by Scientology’s outright cruelty to children.

Of course Scientology does a good job themselves of constantly “pulling it in” by not only believing that they are above the law, but their constant “foot bullets” and lies are no longer working. People world wide are wising up and uniting to put an end to this utter sham of a religion, which is nothing more than a money making pyramid scheme.

So the next time you hand over your hard earned money as a donation, or buy tickets to a show or benefit, attend a race, a movie with a Scientology star or check a loved one into any kind of rehabilitation center, OR you have to take a course at work…. be sure to check it out first. Read the small print. Be sure you know who you are supporting!

Check the Scientology front group list and make sure it is not on that list. And keep in  mind, Scientology is VERY shifty. When a smaller front group’s name gets too much attention of having Scientology ties and the funding stops, they just come up with new names and move on. All the money collected from all these front groups, all goes to the same place… SCIENTOLOGY.

Also, be aware that any time you see a “Stress Test” table with the red table cloths set up selling copies of  the book Dianetics, that it is nothing more than Scientology all the way.

These Stress Test tables set up at fairs, flea markets, malls, street fairs, college campuses, city streets, and have been seen set up outside of some Walmarts!

The Stress Test is where the deception starts, as you will not see a sign saying Scientology ANYWHERE on their tables. They are only interested in sucking you into the cult by having you take a stress test, which will then lead to their personality test. This is where they will tell you that you have problems, or you are not very happy and that you need help and they can help you with some courses. They also claim to cure illnesses. I kid you not.

Speaking of not supporting Scientology, keep in mind that any support for any Scientology celebrity, artist or musician is also giving money to Scientology down the line, as they are continually having to take courses and auditing and “donate” millions to Scientology. Right Tom Cruise?

Not too long ago, Cruise lobbied the White House to have every school in the US teaching Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard tech through the Applied Scholastics front group. Some schools in the US do teach this tech already. The tech is very dangerous, as it will eventually elimnate your child’s ability to think critically and when they go to further their education, they will most likely be far behind others. It also teaches that if the child is not able to understand what they are being taught, that it is THEIR fault. Many students can not get into college after attending a school teaching this tech. Is your child’s school next?

So any movie ticket that you purchase that has a Scientology star in it, the money will end up supporting Scientology down the line. YOUR money.

Don’t be duped, and don’t support a cult that is rife with abuse, deception and utterly drains people of their critical thinking along with their bank accounts and lively hood.

If you are outraged by all of Scientology’s deceptions and abuses of its members, let your local, state and government officials know about it. They are not above board with their front groups and fake charities and it simply must end.

There is no way for Scientology to reform. In order for Scientology to reform, they would first have to put an end to their mind control process. But that is very unlikely, as Scientology IS all about mind control, Without mind control, there would simply be no Scientology.

I urge you to please click on the many links I have thoroughly researched and provided in this article so you can easily read up on some of the many stories, information and horrors of Scientology.

And I end this very long article with words from the founder of Scientology,  the late L. Ron Hubbard, who is revered by cult members who still hang on to his every word…

“THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters”.

L. Ron Hubbard, “Off the Time Track,” lecture of June 1952, excerpted in JOURNAL OF SCIENTOLOGY issue 18-G, reprinted in TECHNICAL VOLUMES OF DIANETICS & SCIENTOLOGY, vol. 1, p. 418

Will Ferrell, Thomas Lennon (Lt. Jim Dangle on Reno 911), and Don Faison (Kirk from Scrubs) and a host of other celebs got together to convey their message against the super rich health care executives by starring in this Public Service Announcement (spoof video) which was listed on Funny Or Die. 

It was sponsored by MoveOn.Org which started out in 1988 as an email group and blossomed, well, more like exploded. As of 2009, MoveOn has a membership of 5.2 million, with 20 full-time and 20 part-time staffers. Not too shabby!
Wikipedia says MoveOn.Org is:

An American non-profit progressive, liberal public policy advocacy group and political action committee which has raised millions of dollars for candidates of the Democratic Party in the United States. Formed in response to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton,it has been cited in some accounts as a factor which helped propel the Democratic Party to power in the 2006 midterm elections.

This video received two million views in two days! It’s funny stuff!

Examiner.com wrote:

Celebrity PSA video about Obama’s health insurance plan gets 2 million views in 2 days.
With celebrities like Will Ferrell, John Hamm and Donald Faison opening the video with a “Something terrible is happening” chant.

“Health insurance executives are getting a bad rap,” Will Ferrell explains, dead pan.

“We need to remember who the real victims are,” Donald Faison, best known for his role in Clueless, says.

John Hamm fades into the viral video in black and white and explains: “Health insurance executives.”

A variety of stars then go on to explain in fits of sarcasm that if their little boy falls off his bike, he should pay for it himself and stop whining.

The US is in a complete tug of war over the skyrocketing health care costs and Obama’s plans to fix it. This video is a refreshing and funny look at just how wrong it is to keep padding the pockets of these health insurance companies.

I wish there were more PSA announcements that would show just how ridiculous it is to not support a total change in the health care system. 

Obama may not have all the answers right now. Hell, he has been in office for less than a year, and I am not saying everything he does will go right, but people are expecting miracles right off the bat in a very short time. They seem to have a very short memory of the mess that was left behind. The US citizens’ impatience totally boggles my mind. 

My wish is for Democrats and Republicans to ban together and fix what has been so wrong for so long.
Oh to dream…

If your planning a trip to the Big Apple, perhaps you might fancy a celebrity to show you around town? Who wouldn’t like that? Well, it’s completley possible now. Huh? Yep! I kid you not. A company called The Big Apple Greeters has been hooking up celebs with tourists to really give them a big welcome to New York City. One couple who participated in a tour, even had lunch with their celeb!
Now before you start thinking that this little outing would only be  a pipe dream because it would be way out of your price range, think again… IT’S ABSOLUTELY FREE!
What’s the catch? NONE! Well, of course they are not going to pay for your hotel or how you get there. DUH. But the tour is FREE!

The Big Apple Greeters have been around since 1992, and have volunteers showing out of towners their neighborhoods, and other places of interest. But now the greeters include volunteer celebrities. Tiki Barber and Sopranos star Dominic Chianese were on hand at City Hall recently to advertise that they are more than willing to hang out with people for the day. How cool is that?
I am sure NY would be a lot more fun if Dominic aka Corrado Jr. Soprano who was born and raised in the Bronx showed you around the Bronx and then shared a plate of ronies and some Chianti after. Salute!

The Associated Press reported:

NYC group offers literal way to follow the stars.
Tourists like to spot celebrities in New York City. Now they can hang out with them.
A volunteer tour organization called Big Apple Greeters is offering free personalized tours led by celebrities. Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber and “Sopranos” star Dominic Chianese were at City Hall on Wednesday to advertise their services.

Barber says he recently showed a Colorado couple around town and had lunch with them at one of his favorite spots.

Chianese says he loves New York and wants to show visitors a good time.

Organizers say celebrity hosts can’t be requested and will be randomly assigned. The tours are free.

Really, how can you beat this offer? Someone can show you NY who really knows and loves the area, you get to meet a celebrity and hang out, take some pics to show off your friends and family and again, it is FREE!
Sounds like it’s too good to be true!
But don’t take my word for it, you can visit their website and see for yourself.

Some snippets from the Big Apple Greeters website:

Founded in 1992 with a mission to enhance New York City’s worldwide image and enrich the New York experience by connecting visitors with knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers. Big Apple Greeter’s core program is its free-of-charge Greeter program which connects visitors with New Yorkers of all ages, conversant in over 20 languages. Greeters, who are all volunteers, accompany visitors on 2-4 hour informal visits to New York City’s neighborhoods in all five boroughs.

Big Apple Greeter is a non-profit organization that matches visitors with friendly and enthusiastic New Yorkers who are happy to share the city they love. A wonderful experience for families, friends and individuals traveling solo, Greeters help travelers feel welcome and get more from their stay in the Big Apple.

The New Yorkers who serve as Greeters are all volunteers, come from varied backgrounds and can welcome visitors in 22 languages. The office staff, also mostly volunteers, matches Greeters to visitors according to language, neighborhoods requested, and interests, when possible.

Who knows, maybe you will get the chance to be rub elbows with Donald Trump over some caviar in the city that never sleeps! Well I wouldn’t consider that much of a treat, and I highly doubt The Donald (eeew) would volunteer his precious time, of course unless it involved making him money in some way. For me? I would rather hang with Dominic Chianese any day.
I think this is a GREAT program and I totally approve! And the FREE part aint’ so bad either!

The Big Apple Awaits You!

And here we go again with the remakes!

It has been decided that they are going ahead and remaking Footloose. Why don’t they just leave these movies alone? Many would consider the original Footloose back in 1984, starring Kevin Bacon, a classic. The popular teen movie also starred a young Sarah Jessica Parker and the great Jon Lithgow.

I never considered Footloose a classic myself, but I do like Kevin Bacon, and I think they should just stop remaking these movies and come up with their own friggin’ ideas.

The original movie’s story was about a city kid who moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned. No, it wasn’t filmed in Amish Country in Pennsylvania.

I would think they might have to update the story line a tad to make it relevant to today’s youth. Maybe this one will be about an urban white boy who wants to rap? Oh wait, Eminem already did that.

Chace Crawford of “Gossip Girl” has been tapped to play the part of Ren McCormack, the part made famous by Bacon. Originally High School Musical and Hairspray star Zac Efron was set to play the part, but dropped out of the project, supposedly because he was done acting in musicals. Hmmm….one man’s cheese is another man’s gold I guess.

A better question is, will Kenny Loggins update the theme song of the same name, or will they remake that as well?

Hollywood — destroying my youth one remake at time.

While Chace is certainly a bit more hunky than Bacon, what with his chiseled jaw and classic good looks, I don’t know if he has the dancing chops to fill the role as Bacon did. Bacon did most of the dancing in the original,although he did have a dance-double for the more difficult parts. Which reminds me, how has Bacon managed to avoid “Dancing With The Stars”?

Kevin Bacon in Origial Footloose 1984

Bacon even does a back flip at the school dance. But perhaps the most famous scene for Bacon is the warehouse dance scene. And if you need a refresher on this movie, like I did. Check out the original Movie Trailer.

Back to the remake….

Us Magazine reported:

It’s official! Chace Crawford will star in the Footloose remake, Paramount Pictures confirms to Usmagazine.com exclusively.

“Chace Crawford will play the lead role of Ren McCormack in the film Footloose,” Paramount told Us Tuesday.

The news is expected to be officially announced to trade publications Wednesday morning.

The actor has been considering the part for some time but had yet to officially sign until this week. He had been in contract negotiations and was struggling to make filming work around his Gossip Girl schedule, which is also due to start shooting its third season, a source told Us.

Crawford was offered the lead role of small town bad boy Ren — portrayed in the 1984 original by Kevin Bacon — after Zac Efron dropped out of the project in March.

The High School Musical star said the film “sort of” wasn’t a good fit.

“I want to grow a bit with the types of movies I want to make,” he said in April. “It was more along the lines that I was looking for a new challenge, and this was another musical.”

Footloose will be produced and directed by High School Musical alum Kenny Ortega.

Other stars who have auditioned recently for the movie, which is set to begin shooting in March 2010, include Hayden Panettiere, Amanda Bynes and Dancing With the Stars pro dancer Julianne Hough.

Well I am sure all pubescent gals will be drooling over this movie, just like they did High School Musical.

Wonder what Kevin Bacon will think of the movie remake? Well apparently, not too much.

From TopNews back in March:

Kevin Bacon has told Broadway bosses not to offer him a role in the stage revival of his hit movie musical `Footloose’, as he’’s just “not interested”.

“I”m not interested in doing that. They did one, and that’’s enough for me.”

I hear Bacon is a nice guy, plus, he gets major props for keeping his Hollywood marriage to actress Kyra Sedgwick going for the last 21 years — a lifetime in Hollywood years. While Kevin may not be interested in doing any more Footloose interpretations, perhaps he will be curious enough to give this movie the ol’ once over to see if Chace did his part any justice.

Of course, Kevin’s got plenty of his plate to keep him busy, like his rock band, the Bacon Brothers Band and the charity he started called Six Degrees.

The charity is set up so you can basically support your favorite charities by donating or creating fund-raising badges — as well as check out the favorite causes of other people, including celebrities online. 

A little help from Wiki to understand the premise behind the trivia game SixDegrees and the charity:

The charity was named six degrees after the trivia game based on the concept of the small world phenomenon and rests on the assumption that any actor can be linked through his or her film roles to actor Kevin Bacon within six steps.

The game requires a group of players to try to connect any film actor in history to Kevin Bacon as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible. In 2007, Bacon started a charity named SixDegrees.org. The fantasy author-editor Richard Gilliam devised his Movie Links online game in 1990, and it was played extensively on Genie four years before the quite similar Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game was promoted in 1994. Gilliam’s game was much more difficult in that a player was required to find the shortest number of movies linking actors as diverse as, say, Gloria Swanson and Chris Farley, rather than continual links to the same specific actor.

Pretty darn cool huh? Beat that Chace! For us in the “mature audience” we’ll take the original Footloose any day. No offense Chace!

More freebies from restaurants…and hey, I’m all about that.  Go to your local IHOP and you too can celebrate National Pancake Day (also known as Fat Tuesday) with a free short stack:

Join IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 24, 2009.  From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., we’ll give you one free short stack (three) of our famous buttermilk pancakes.  All we ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network, or other local charities.

And I can’t think of a better day to have free pancakes than on Fat Tuesday, plus you can donate what you might spend on them to a good cause:

Known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products…hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.

Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has raised nearly two million dollars to support charities in the communities in which it operates. With your help, we hope to raise $1,000,000 for Children’s Miracle Network in 2009!

So you can have pancakes and help out a worthy charity at the same time!  What could be better?

By now, most of you have heard about the horrific brush fires which are currently blazing through Australia.  Over 180 people have died as a result, and so far two people have been arrested for suspicion of arson related to most of the fires.  Entire towns have been burnt, and the death toll rises every day:

Firefighters were today tackling fresh fires ripping through the Australian bush as the crisis showed no sign of abating.

The latest sites are near the historic town of Beechworth north-east of Melbourne.

Police said the fires – which include one huge blaze – had been deliberately started and warned residents to be prepared to flee.

Wind is so far keeping the flames away from houses.

‘It’s virtually impossible to believe that people are still lighting fires,’ said Victoria’s Premier John Brumby.

‘There seems little doubt that these were deliberately lit. I think words escape us all 
when it comes to describing that deliberate arson.’

Police hunting for arsonists responsible for the deaths of 181 people in Victoria’s bushfires said today they are close to making an arrest.

With 80 people still missing in the town of Marysville – described as a potential ‘Ground Zero’ – and more of the badly burned victims expected to die in hospital, the death toll is expected to rise to 300. [...]

The remains of most the missing are believed to be lying under the rubble of homes in the historic town of Marysville – described as a potential ‘Ground Zero’ – a few miles from another badly-hit community, Kinglake.

Firefighter John Munday believes that when searchers can start sifting through the remains of Marysville ‘the toll is going to be massive.’

Prime minister Kevin Rudd has said the arsonists should ‘rot in jail’.

If convicted, the firestarters should receive no mercy from justice, said Mr Rudd.

‘The laws of the state provide that they can be put away and put away for life,’ he said.

‘My view is they should be allowed to rot in jail. This is unspeakable murder on a mass scale.’

You can read the rest of the story at the link above, it’s too horrific for me to post here.  The thought of all those poor people dying in a fire which could have been deliberately set is too depressing to think about.  Men, women, children, the elderly, little babies, pets and animals, all gone.  It would be bad enough if it were a natural disaster, but to think that this could a deliberate act is unconscionable.  In some cases, they are ruling out arson, but the investigation has yet to be completed.

However, a small heartwarming story has emerged from the ashes.  Two koala bears, Sam and Bob, have been rescued from the fire and have now formed a bond with one another which is helping them both.  You might recognize Sam, the koala receiving a drink from a firefighter, but you might not know Bob, who was badly burned as well:

The story of Sam and her new boyfriend Bob emerged after volunteer firefighter Dave Tree used a mobile phone to film the rescue of the bewildered female.

She was found cowering in a burned out forest at Mirboo North, 90 miles southeast of Melbourne.

Photos and a video of Tree, 44, approaching Sam while talking gently to her, and feeding her water from a plastic bottle as she put her burned claw in his cold, wet hand quickly hit video sharing website YouTube.

But it was after reaching a wildlife shelter that Sam met and befriended Bob, who was saved by wildlife workers on Friday, two days before Sam.

Tree, who has been a volunteer firefighter for 26 years, said it was extremely rare to get so close to a koala so he asked his colleague Brayden Groen, 20, to film him.

‘You can how she stops and moves forward and looks at me. It was like a look saying “I can’t run, I’m weak and sore, put me out of my misery”,’ Tree said.

‘I yelled out for some water and I sat down with her and tipped the water up.

‘It was in my hand and she reached for the bottle then put her right claw into my left hand which was cold so it must have given her some pain relief and she just left it there. It was just amazing.’ [...]

She said Sam had suffered second degree burns to her paws and would take seven to eight months to recover while Bob had three burned paws with third degree burns and should be well enough to return to the bush in about four months.

‘They keep putting their arms around each other and giving each other hugs. They really have made friends and it is quite beautiful to see after all this. It’s been horrific,’ said Wood.

‘Sam is probably aged between two to four going by her teeth and Bob is about four so they have a muchness with each other.’

I’m sorry, maybe I’m an old softie, but that brought tears to my eyes, to see something good come out of so much devastation.  I sincerely hope that there are more stories of hope and renewal come out of this terrible time.

I have a small experience with fire myself, and I know on a small scale what it is like to be caught up in it, to run into flames searching for an animal, to stand helplessly watching the flames and worry.  Fortunately, everyone in my family, including both cats, made it out.  However, I cannot fathom fire on this scale or magnitude, or what it feels like to see entire towns wiped out or entire families gone.  I don’t pretend to even imagine the anguish of family members searching for their loved ones.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all our Aussie friends during this time.

I’ve found two sites where you can donate to help the victims of the fires:  The Australian Red Cross, and The Salvation Army in Australia.  Both have links where you can donate online.  If any of our readers know of any other sites, please let us know.  I know we all are being hit with the credit crunch, and times are bad for us all, but it isn’t until you lose everything that you realize true riches do not come from money.  I’m sure we can all find a little bit to help.

I think Catan has some issues.  :)  That being said, this video made me lol.  And there’s a nice link at the end to a doggie rescue organization that places basset hounds with good homes.

What’s really funny is poor Gunny…who, after all, just wants a nap!

(oh, and check out the laptop in the corner, it never goes off…screensaver, anyone?)

To listen live, click here. To call into the show to discuss global poverty issues, or ask question call:(347)308-8594.

If this turns out to be true, then shame on her…it’s one thing to believe your own overhyped hype, but another to take money from a charity to show up at one of their fundraisers and then do a halfway job about it.  It has been alleged that reality TV star Lauren Conrad, famous for something to do with Speidi and, uh, something else, didn’t quite fulfill her obligations at “Paws For Style”, a fundraiser for the Humane Society of New York:

In case you’re not familiar with the event, Paws for Style is a big party and fashion show that showcases dogs and their owners (usually celebrities and socialites) on the runway in designer duds, and all the funds raised go to charity. So Lauren showed up for the red carpet, did her interviews and posed for the pap, and then, when called to walk the runway, refused to get on the stage.

What, she just didn’t do her walk and pose at the end?  What’s so bad about that?

Cara, my darling little hair vixen, who was helping to run the chaos backstage, said that she overheard Lauren and her publicist talking about her scheduled runway appearance – it seemed as though she had no idea that she was scheduled to walk. Lauren then feigned tears, and with the help from her publicist minions, rushed through the crowd and down the stairs. The funny thing? Every detail of the event had been confirmed and settled wayyy before, so there was no way Lauren wasn’t aware of her participation in the fashion show.

I know I’m not up on my red carpet event etiquette, but isn’t walking the red carpet and posing with a borrowed dog beforehand, and walking the runway at the end (possibly with another borrowed pooch) about the same thing?  You walk, you stop, you pose, you turn, you pose again, you smile (or not), you walk back.  Am I missing something?

Plus, it’s alleged that the trip wasn’t paid for by Lauren, but by the Humane Society:

The worst part is that the Humane Society of New York, who are the ones benefitting from the event, paid for her flight from California and hotel at one of NYC’s top spots.

But there’s always another side to the story.  Lauren, for her part, insists that she fulfilled her obligations as she understood them, paid for her airfare in the form of a donation, and says she wasn’t paid to show up (although I don’t think it was alleged that she was paid to be there, but I could be wrong):

I was invited by “Animal Fair Magazine” to attend a charity event, “Paws For Style” fashion show.  I have always been a supporter of animal causes. I own 2 rescue animals and this sounded like a great event.  I agreed to pose for the cover of the magazine, host the event, do press at the event and donate clothing, all of which I did.  I was not aware of any other commitments.  I was not paid to attend the event and my hotel room was donated to the charity.   I also made a voluntary donation to the Humane Society for more than the cost of my airfare so there would be no expense to the charity.

So, like most things turn out to be in the celeb world, it turns out to be a she said/she said.  I hope this isn’t true, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was.  It’s one thing to be a vapid clotheshorse, famous for appearing on a not-quite-as-reality-as-they-want-you-to-think show.  It’s another to start believing your own overhyped hype.  This was was an important fundraiser for an important charity.  I take animal welfare and care very seriously, and if she did run out I am seriously disgusted with her behavior.  If she didn’t, then somebody’s got some splainin’ to do, Loosey, starting at the top.

But in honor of the “Paws For Style” show, why not make a donation to your local Humane Society or animal shelter?  They take donations of things like pet food and cat litter as well as money, and they can always use volunteers.